EU Glass Recycling Stalls in 2016

摘要

The European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) said that about 12m tons of glass bottles and jars were collected and recycled in Europe. The average recycling rate in the region in 2016 was the same as 2014, at 74%. The latest industry figures have a two-year time lag, dating from 2016. FEVE said it expects the percentage of glass containers that are recycled to rise, as the circular economy becomes an important part of the political agenda. "As an industry we commit to actually recycle all collected glass of sufficient quality in the closed loop," said FEVE secretary general Adeline Farrelly. "An estimated 90% of what is collected goes into creating new bottles from old ones, offering brands and consumers a food grade quality recycled material. Today, recycled glass is our most important raw material, which brings us major environmental benefits, and energy savings." A FEVE study suggested countries such as Austria and Sweden have gone beyond 90% collection for recycling rates, while countries including Hungary, Greece and Romania are under 40%.